Bubbha

I've checked out both Notarize and NotaryCam.

NotaryCam has a lot more detailed information about personal data privacy.

The document that I need notarized is related to banking. I am not comfortable uploading the information in this document to the databases of either of these two companies - no matter how much assurance they have about data privacy. More routine and less data sensitive transactions might be OK, but even then you're still required to give away a lot of personal information.

I may have to wait until the American Citizens Service section of the US Embassy reopens for routine notary services. That's likely to be a while....

I am looking for suggestions and experience/feedback for use of online notary services in the USA.

Many thanks... 

I have a Thai friend who has filed for personal bankruptcy. My friend does not really understand this process and how to manage well. It seems like this process might be much more complicated than my friend’s very basic understanding.

I am looking for recommendations for lawyers (Thai speaking) who could help guide my friend through the personal bankruptcy process. 

Thanks in advance…

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

  5 hours ago, jelu77 said:

What about the blue house book registration requirement if you work abroad and plan to keep PR alive by visiting Thailand for the new non quota visa and re-entry permit once a year?

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You only have to do that once to get your Thai ID number. Once registered there is no need to do it again unless you want to change it to another house.

Is it not necessary to show your name in a blue house registration book for renewal of alien registration (red book) at your district police station every 5 years?

On 7/9/2019 at 12:15 PM, Bubbha said:

Yesterday (Monday), I initiated a a transfer using push ACH to my Transferwise borderless account. If initiated on a Monday with no holidays in Thailand and the US, the funds have consistently arrived at my Bangkok Bank account on Thursday afternoon between 2-3 pm.  I will report back soon after. 

To follow-up on my transfer this week - initiated on Monday (ACH push) and funds arrived on Thursday (yesterday) afternoon as expected - like clockwork. However, the arrival code was Interbank Transfer via SMART - rather than FTT. 

I need these fund transfers for living expenses - and not for visa support at Immigration, so the transfer coding at Bangkok Bank is not a significant issue for me. However, I don't like that I was not notified of this change, as I had previously requested that my Transferwise account be marked to use only Bangkok Bank.

Overall, Transferwise still works well for what I need -- although I am unhappy with the recent turbulence and lack of coordinated customer service communication about changes to their systems and how these changes will impact their customers in Thailand. In fact, Transferwise should still consider a communications outreach effort to their Thailand based customers rather than just leaving staff to react to frustrated customers via phone calls and email. Not impressive.... 

20 hours ago, Pib said:

My TW recipients were tagged to use Bangkok Bank as the partner bank back in early March.  TW also said I didn't have to ask again...it was like a permanent tag until I requested it be removed.  The last transfer to my Bangkok Bank acct on 30 May arrived with FTT/International Transfer coding and Bangkok Bank was the partner bank used.  All good.

 

Out of curiosity I just initiated a transfer to my Bangkok Bank account to see what coding it receives...will report back when it arrives which should be a day or two from now. It's funded via ACH Pull so it takes around a day just for that funding process to complete....and then TW sends the baht.

This is my circumstance, exactly.

Yesterday (Monday), I initiated a a transfer using push ACH to my Transferwise borderless account. If initiated on a Monday with no holidays in Thailand and the US, the funds have consistently arrived at my Bangkok Bank account on Thursday afternoon between 2-3 pm.  I will report back soon after. 

However, if the funds do arrive with the desired FTT designation, I will be uncertain if that's because my account has been marked to use only Bangkok Bank - or just a random occurrence.

I am not sure that I like having to call or email to tag Bangkok Bank as my recipient bank each time I make a transfer. This seems like a step backward from having my account marked to use only Bangkok Bank. 

I actually don't need the FTT designation for immigration purposes - but would still like to have this if I ever need to prove that the money I am transferring in is from overseas -rather than a transfer that is coded (at least on the surface) as domestic.

Like a number of other posters, I requested that Transferwise mark my account to use only Bangkok Bank as the transfer bank in Thailand - so I could be credited with a foreign transfer. This has worked as expected for 4 consecutive months. I initiated another transfer today and will report back when complete.

If Transferwise is no longer honoring prior (approved) requests to use a specific bank in Thailand - and they're not communicating this to the relevant customers - then this will be a real negative for me.

I need to replace three 16 year old ceiling mounted air con units in my condo.

I am looking for recommendations for best brand and installation service.

I live in the central area of Bangkok.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

I use Transferwise and a borderless account.

From my US bank, I send US$ via ACH to my Transferwise borderless account (a US account based in New York). This takes 3 business days. On the day that the funds arrive in my Transferwise borderless account (Day 3), I then sent the funds along to my bank account in Thailand. 

The funds arrive at my bank account in Thailand on the 4th business day at 2 pm.

So if I initiate the process on Monday (US time), the funds arrive at my account in Thailand on Thursday afternoon (assuming no bank holidays in both countries).

The process might be a bit faster if you direct Transferwise to use ACH to debit your bank account - not sure, really, as I have not tried this.

I agree that Transferwise would be more expensive than direct bank to bank wires for very large transfer amounts.

However, for monthly/quarterly living expenses, this works well for me.  

I offer my experience as a way to inform options for others - acknowledging that their are many good options available and everyone's needs are different.  

I also have a Transferwise borderless account. The account is based in the US (New York City). I use ACH at my US bank to send funds to my Transferwise borderless account. The funds arrive at my Transferwise borderless account 3 business days after initiating the ACH transfer (counting the day of transfer).  I then send the USD amount from my Transferwise borderless account to my bank in Thailand, which arrives the next business day. 

My bank in Thailand is one of the three Transferwise Thai banks. As I was setting up my account, I asked Transferwise to mark transfers to my account in Thailand as international transfers. This has worked without error so far. 

Thanks to everyone for all the excellent advice and information - this is all very helpful ????

Thank you atyclb and dddave - very helpful information.

I have heard of others recommending Pro-Corner - so I will give them a go.

Many thanks for your replies - and sharing issues to think about that I had not considered previously. 

I am looking to upgrade a Lenovo ThinkPad computer (specs below) that I bought in 2014 – namely switching out to a SSD and increasing memory.

Can anyone recommend a reputable shop/vendor at Fortune Town or Pantip who could do this for me?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Lenovo ThinkPad T440 (2014 purchase)

Intel Core i5-4200U (1.60 GHz, 3 MB L3 Cache, up to 2.60 GHz)

Memory 4 GB DDR3L

Hard Disk1 TB 5400 RPM

Thanks, I will report back after I visit the Social Security Office later this week.

I live in Bangkok and pay into the Thai Social Security health system as an individual payer. 

It seems that the Social Security system no longer sends out an updated card with your hospital listed and the period of your coverage (two years). The forms to change assigned hospital for the two year period are also not sent.

I called their helpline and was told that the new system is designed to use your Thai ID card at your assigned hospital. The person I talked with was not sure what non-Thai participants should use - a passport was suggested.

Also, it's not clear how to select a different hospital. Perhaps a visit to the social security office - in my case, Silom soi 10.

Thanks in advance for any knowlege about the new system.

I am based in Bangkok and looking to buy a new Dell computer (XPS 15).

Does anyone have recommendations for place of purchase (Dell dealer)?

From a Google search, I see a few places listed in Fortune Town IT Mall.

Thanks for any recommendations....

I would like to leave part of my assets to one or more Thai nationals who have very limited current income and future earnings potential. My goal is to provide long term income and financial security to these individuals.

Given the cultural norm and practice of sharing, an inheritance of cash would not last long – and might even be more harmful than helpful - in some ways.

Purchase of a lifetime, or at least long term, annuity would be ideal, but annuities do not seem to be available in Thailand.

How have others managed this situation? I have thought about property and land (e.g. less liquid) but my concern is that these assets would not last much longer than cash in hand.

Thanks for any thoughts and suggestions.

A quick follow-up to this thread, which I started several months ago. While in the US during April/May, I purchased and set up a prepaid SIM card from T-Mobile. This has worked without fault in Thailand over the past several months for US banking SMS two factor authentication requirements. This is a great deal for just US$3 per month. I have also been using Google Voice for voice and text, which also works quite well.

TallGuyJohninBKK - very useful and helpful reply, thank you

I am in the US now for the Songkran holiday. I called T-Mobile and they do allow international connections (roaming) with prepaid SIM cards (unlike AT&T). So I will try this option. 

Using the internet for SMS/text seems to be problematic in some cases so I think I will try T-Mobile as a (hopefully) more reliable way to do this.

I also want a US based number for my visits to the US so this will accomplish that objective as well.

Thanks for all of the very helpful suggestions. I will give the T-Mobile prepaid SIM card a try. I also like the idea of asking my bank if they can send the two step verification code by email. That might be a good option.

I am looking for advice & experience for receiving SMS messages from the USA for two step verification for banking, etc.

My idea is to use a prepaid US based SIM card in Thailand. I have checked with AT&T and their prepaid SIM card does not allow for connections to international networks. I am in the process of checking with T-Mobile and others.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

I would like to get tested (and treated if necessary) for liver fluke. 

I understand that there is a blood antibody test for liver fluke now (instead of examining stool samples for parasite eggs). However, I am not sure if the blood antibody tests are used in Thailand. 

Does anyone have experience and/or recommendations for a Dr and/or facility that would be appropriate?

Thanks very much....

Ubonjoe - thanks very much for your response - exactly the information I was looking for.